Diesel Engine Fuel Injection Control for Sulfur Deposit Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Diesel engines operating on high sulfur content fuel face issues such as accelerated wear, corrosion, and fuel injector fouling, leading to degraded engine performance and reduced power due to sulfur deposits, which existing technologies have not effectively addressed.

Innovation Solution

A method for controlling diesel engine operation by adjusting fuel injection parameters, monitoring fuel injector fouling, and performing cleaning cycles based on the sulfur content of the fuel, including estimating sulfur content from injector performance and adjusting engine operation to maintain power and prevent further degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If high sulfur content fuel is used, then fuel cost is reduced, but fuel injector fouling and engine performance degradation occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel costVSAvoidfuel injector performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of sulfur content in fuel and proactively adjusts fuel injection parameters before significant injector fouling occurs. By monitoring sulfur content and preemptively modifying injection timing, duration, and pressure, the system prevents sulfur deposits from accumulating to harmful levels, thereby maintaining injector reliability while allowing use of cost-effective high-sulfur fuel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors fuel injector performance parameters such as injection quantity, spray pattern, and pulsewidth characteristics. This feedback information is used to detect early signs of sulfur-related fouling and dynamically adjust injection parameters to compensate for degradation, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains injector performance despite high sulfur fuel usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If high sulfur content fuel is used, then fuel cost is reduced, but engine power decreases due to sulfur deposits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel costVSAvoidengine power

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system preemptively detects sulfur content in the fuel and adjusts engine operating parameters before power degradation occurs. By advancing injection timing and optimizing injection pressure in response to detected sulfur content, the system compensates for the negative effects of sulfur deposits, maintaining engine power output while allowing use of lower-cost high-sulfur fuel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes multiple engine operating parameters including injection timing, injection duration, injection pressure, and air-fuel ratio based on detected sulfur content. These parameter adjustments compensate for the detrimental effects of sulfur deposits on combustion efficiency and engine power, enabling maintenance of power output despite using high-sulfur fuel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If fuel injection parameters are adjusted to compensate for sulfur deposits, then engine power is maintained, but injection precision may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine powerVSAvoidinjection precision

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors actual injection parameters including pulsewidth, injection quantity, and spray characteristics. This real-time feedback allows the control system to detect deviations from target injection precision and dynamically adjust injection timing and duration to compensate, maintaining both engine power and injection precision even when operating with high-sulfur fuel that causes gradual injector fouling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If fuel injector cleaning cycles are performed, then sulfur deposits are removed, but engine operation time is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel injector cleanlinessVSAvoidengine operation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of sulfur content and monitors early signs of injector fouling through changes in injection parameters. By initiating cleaning cycles before significant power degradation or severe fouling occurs, the system maintains injector cleanliness with less frequent cleaning intervals, thereby maximizing engine operation time between maintenance events while still preventing serious deposits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing full cleaning cycles frequently, the system uses partial cleaning actions at optimized intervals based on sulfur content and fouling rate. This approach removes sufficient deposits to maintain performance while minimizing the time lost to cleaning operations, balancing reliability maintenance with operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8744728B2Fuel sulfur content-based operation control of a diesel engine

Publication Date: 2014.06.03 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

Over a diesel engine's lifetime, engine efficiency may be reduced and some of this may be attributable to sulfur deposit accumulation in the engine. A method for controlling operation of a diesel engine operating on a fuel is provided. The method may include adjusting an injection of fuel to the engine in response to a sulfur content of the fuel.